August 2025 - Dave Sorokowsky on "Don't Fear the Slippers: A Guide to Successful Paph Culture"

Dave Sorokowsky

We are excited to welcome Dave Sorokowsky, who is speaking to our society for the first time. Dave’s talk is “Don’t Fear the Slippers: A Guide to Successful Paph Culture.” “Don't Fear the Slippers” is an in-depth review of how to grow Paphiopedilum, covering easy, beginner plants all the way through the most challenging species. There are tips for novice and seasoned growers alike. Dave is a shared speaker with SDCOS. He will be speaking at their meeting on Tuesday, Aug 5th on “Paphiopedilum rothschildianum” for those of you who would like to attend at Balboa Park or via Zoom (contact Alex for link).

After receiving his degree in biochemistry from the University of Toronto, Dave opted to step outside his chosen field and operated a tropical fish import business for eight years. Upon returning to school, Dave received a degree in enology and viticulture from Brock University in St. Catherines, Ontario. While attending Brock, Dave began acquiring orchids one 2” pot at a time and before he graduated, Dave had over 100 orchids. About one year later, winemaking and a passion for orchids prompted Dave to seek a warmer climate in California. Dave has been growing paphiopedilums for about 20 years and seriously hybridizing for over 10 years. He is an Accredited Judge with the American Orchid Society, California Sierra Nevada Judging Center, and his paphiopedilums have received over 100 awards to date from the AOS and CSA. Many of those awarded plants play important roles in his breeding program. In 2018, Dave left winemaking to devote all his time to running Paph Paradise Orchids.

Dave is taking pre-orders for any of our members who are interested in purchasing orchids from Paph Paradise

 (https:www.paphparadise.com/) and there is a 10% discount on orders over $100. Pre-orders are due August 1st, and you can email Dave with your order at dave@paphparadise.com. Dave will also be providing this month’s plant table.